Electrolytic condenser



July 14, 1936- v. F. zAHoDiAKlN ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed July 14, 1954 wn/ff Mi ATTORNEY Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATEN This invention relatesto improvements in electrolytic condensers.

It is the object of this inventionfto provide aV durable, inexpensive and easily manufactured" electrolytic condenser for use on radios o rvrthef like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a condenser of this character, the principal or base parts of which may bemanufactured of any insulating material, thatis tosay, material which is ineiective for the purposes of electrolytic action or conductivity.A Thisishighly advantageous since the parts-ordinarily Ause xii'or the purposes of electrolytic action are usually expensive. In other words, inexpensivel material, such as glass, composition, paper, etc., may loe used in the fabrication of these base parts of the condenser and the amount of material used in the condenser having the requisite qualities may thus be reduced to a minimum.

Accordingly, it isdntended that the present in vention in its rst aspect, residesin the feature of coating these inexpensive base materials with a lm of material having the qualities necessary for the use intended.

The capacity of electrolytic condensers is proportionate to the effective area of the anode. Therefore, the present improvement will provide a maximum area at low cost since the base part can loe molded, formed or cast to include a multiplicity of corrugations or fins and the amount oi" material required for the part may loe entirely disregarded in estimating cost. it is pointed out that the materials, such as aluminum, ordinarily used for these parts, are quite expensive and the fabrication of these parts ci the materials ordinarily used is extremely dim cult and therefore expensive.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a condenser which does not require expensive forming machinery in its manufacture, the container including the anode surface and hav ing the anode contact terminal'cast therein and accordingly being readily made proof against leakage of the electrolyte therefrom.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a condenser container including the anode formed on its inner surface, which container is readily formed of heavy, rigid structure, that is to say, can have considerable mass because of the use of inexpensive base material. Accordingly, the container will be more rigid for v the purpose of positive and rigid attachment of parts thereto, such as the closure, thereby entirely eliminating the poesihitity ci The conventional structure, because of the ex- ',pense of the material and diiiculty of manufacture, is made of extremely thin material which will not permit arm or rigid attachment oi the closure parts thereto. Therefore, it Will be 5 apparent that with the use of relatively thin material, the parts will not stand up in the op- .erations of attachment.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a condenser anode formed by placing a lo film of material having electrolytic properties,

such .as aluminum, on the roughened ,surface of the base material whereby a good bond is procured between the hase part and the ilm and at the same time the eiective area of contact is l5 increased due to the roughened surface.

' lit is a still further object of this invention to provide a condenser, the outer part of which may loe Jiornced of some non-corrosive material, such as glass. 2o

Itis a still further object of this invention to provide a condenser structure which eliminates gas pockets, is not likely to be short-circuited, and eliminates numerous insulators heretofore employedv in condensers of this character. 25

Other objects and further advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side view of the improved condenser. 30

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the condenser taken on line 2 2, Figure l.

vFigure 3 is a sectional view taken on line il--3, Figure l, detailing the irregular contour of the inner surface of the container for increased area. 35

Figure a is a side view partly in section illustrating a modified form of the condenser.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side view partly in section showing a modified form of closure cap for the condenser.

Referring to the drawing, the condenser includes a container lil. The container l@ carries the anode, this anode being provided in the form' of a illm' or coating ll on the internal surface of the container. The container body may be 45 formed of any inexpensive insulating material, in this instance being made of glass. The terminal l2 for the anode is cast or molded within the material of the container and has an end internally disposed. The container as initially formed, 5@ includes this terminal and the lm or coating subsequently applied to the interior thereof, also covers the inner end of the terminal. Since the main or-support part only functions as a base or support ier the conductive parts of the condenser, 55

its main requisite is that it be of insulating material. lit is important that the material selected be inexpensive, easily formed and having the proper strength. The material of the lm or coating is selected for its electrolytic qualities and for this reason it is preferable to use aluminum.

The film or coating may be secured to the interior ofthe container byelectro-platingprocesses or by spraying lthe material thereon in liquid form. `lrior the purpose of increasing the area and providing a. good bond between the coating and the base material, the surface of the base material can be prepared by roughening the same either as initially molded or by subsequently sand blasting the same. it will be understood that the roughened surface will provide greater area and this is to be desired for greater capacity of the condenser.

It will be noted from Figure 3 that the container walls, particularly the inner wall surface, has greatly increased area due to a multiplicity of corrugations l2a which greatly extend the wall surface. This corrugated Wall because it provides greater external wall surface, has the added function of rapidly dissipating the heat which is generated by the operationof the condenser. llt will be observed that avery excellent connection through the anode terminal is obtained by virtue of the fact that the anode terminal extends to the interior of the container and is coated by the anode film.

rThe cathode of the condenser is indicated at i3 and is in the form of a long tube l@ depending centrally Within the container but short of the bottom thereof and submerged in the electrolyte, and a cap portion l5 attached to the upper end of the container and forming a sealed closure therefor. The inner coating or nlm torming the anode disposed on the internal wall of the container, terminates shortoi the upper end ci'.

the container, as at it, so as to be entirely free ci' Contact with the cathode.

The cap portion of the cathode may be or" any type for a rigid attachment thereto, being either in the form of a clinched cap, as shown'in the main view, or a screw cap, as shown in the modied view. A sealing gasket Ill is placed under the cap. It is necessary that there be some outlet for gases generated within the condenser and for this reason the cathode tube is perforated, as at it, at its upper end, and a. valve Il@ is fabricated into the cap structure at the upper end of the tube, that is, disposed across the upper end of the tube.

Referring to the drawing, the cap and tube of the cathode can be separate pieces for the purpose of attaching the valve in position. lThe cap element includes a central aperture E@ aligned with the tube and the tube includes an upper flange 2l for attaching the same to the underside of the cap. The valve is in the form of a rubber disc and is engaged between the iiange of the tube and the margin of the cap about the opening thereof.

In View of the fact that it is desirable to permit escape of gas Without permitting leakage of the electrolyte from the container, the valve disc is provided with a minute opening which under normal circumstances will not permit leakage of the electrolyte from the container but in case gases are generated in the condenser, the rubber disc will be pressed outwardly, thereby spreading and enlarging the opening and permitting escape of the gases. l

The condenser is usually mounted on a panel indicated at 22. 'I'he container may include a screw-threaded boss 23 adapted to traverse an opening 24 in the panel and to be attached therein by means of a nut 25 engaging the underside or the panel and drawing the condenser thereagainst.

For the purpose of completing the circuit, the external surface of the container may be coated or providedwith a film 26 of some material which` is a conductor oi electricity. This coating should' extend from the mouth of the container to the boss on the underside of the container for engagement with the panel. A good connection is nia/de from the cathode to this coating by virtue ci the attachment ci the cap to the container. The cathode parts, including the external film, are preferably formed of copper.

In the operation of the condenser, the current passes into the terminal of the container, through the anode, through the electrolyte, through the cathode tube, through the cap, through the external iilrning and thence to the panel.

lin the modified form shown in Figure 4i, a cathode terminal 2l is connected directly to the cap and the external coating or nlm of the previous form is not used. Also, in this form of the device, the container as initially formed is open at both. ends. Accordingly, for the purpose of closing and sealing the lower end, a cap is ernployed. This cap may be attached by clinching in the same manner as the cap of the cathode. in this orrn of container, a plurality of radial iins 35 are provided.

The internal coating forming the anode is extended around the lower edge of the container, as indicated at 2t, a sucient distance to make a good contact with the clinched portion of the cap. A sealing gasket t@ is used for sealing the cap against leakage at the lower end.

rlihe cap 2t inclu'des a screw-threaded extension 3i projecting through the opening of the panel and secured by means of ia nut 32. Insulators and 36, upper and lower respectively, are provited on each side ci the panel between the nut and the condenser cap. The lower insulator is in the form of a washer whereas the upper insulator is cup-shaped and extends up the side of the condenser a sufficient distance for covering the circuit carrying lower cap. ln other words, this insulator acts as a shield and has the purpose of preventing physical contact with the current passing through the anode of the condenser.

lin the operation of the condenser in this form the current passes into the lower cap to the nlm or coating of the anode, through the electrolyte, through the cathode tube, and thence from the condenser through terminal 2li.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In an electrolytic condenser, a closed container formed of insulating material and having an electrolytic solution therein, said container having its inner surface coated with a material forming a filming anode, a terminal iixed in one end of said container and in connection with said coating, the other end of said container including a conductor of electricity insulated from said coating, and a cathode tube extending from. said conductor of electricity into said container.

2. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a cond tainer formed of glass and having its internal surface coated with a lm of material forming an anode, said container having an electrolyte therein, and a cathode supported in said electrolyte and insulated from Said 0f material 75 ened inner surface and coated with a material forming an anode, said container having an electrolyte therein, and a cathode in said container insulated from said coating.

4. In an electrolytic condenser, a. sealed container formedof glass or the like and having an electrolyte therein and having its inner surface coated with aluminum, a cathode 'suspended in said electrolyte and insulated from said' coating.

5. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a container formed of insulating material and having a plurality of corrugations in its Walls providing increased internal and external area, the inner surface of said container coated with a film of material forming an anode, said container having an electrolyte therein, a cathode mounted in said container, and means for closing said container.

6. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a container for an electrolyte formed of insulating material, having a multiplicity of fins formed on its inner surface for providing greater area therefor, said inner surface coated with a lm of material forming an anode, and a cathode mounted adjacent said film.

7. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a casing formed of insulating material and having its inner and outer surfaces coated with a material forming an anode, said casing having an electrolyte therein, a terminal at one end of said casing in engagement with the inner film, and a closure at the other end of said casing having a cathode thereon suspended in said electrolyte, said closure in engagement with the outer film.

8. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a container formed of insulating material having a coating on its inner Wall formed of a material constituting an anode, said container having an.'

electrolyte therein andrhaving a cap closing said open end, a cathode tube suspended from said cap within said container and spaced therefrom, and an electrical connection to said coating at the closed end of said container.

9. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a molded container formed of insulating material and having a closed end and having a lm of material on its inner surface forming an anode, a terminal molded in said closed end in engagement with said film, and a cathode disposed in said container having an electrical connection thereto, said container having an electrolyte therein.

10. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a molded container formed of insulating material and having a closed end and having a fllm of material on its inner surface forming an anode, a terminal molded in said closed end in engagement with said f'llm, and a cathode disposed in said container, the outer surface of said container coated with a lm of material capable of conducting electricity, and said cathode in engagement with said film.

l1. In an electrolytic condenser, a container formed of insulating material and having its inner surface coated with a material forming an anode, said container having a closed end, a terminal in said closed end in engagement with said coating, a panel, means for securing said closed end of said container to said panel, a cathode projected into said container, said container having an electrolyte therein, a closure cap supporting said cathode, the outer surface of said container coated with a lm of material capable of conducting electricity, said cap in engagement with said coating, said coating in engagement with said panel.

12. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a container formed of insulating material and having a coating on its inner surface forming an anode, said container having an electrolyte therein, said container having its ends closed, one end thereof having a cap thereon having a copper tube projecting therefrom in said container, and electrical connections to said coating and to said cap.

13. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a cylindrical container formed of insulating material closed at its ends and having an electrolyte solution therein, the internal wall of said container being coated With material forming a filming anode, one end of said container having a terminal projecting therefrom havingengagement With said coating, and a cathode tube extended from the other end of said container into the container, said coating terminating shortof the end of the container from which the cathode tube projects.

14. An electrolytic condenser, comprising, a container formed of insulating material and having a coating of material on its inner surface forming an anode, said container having anV electrolyte therein, a cathode supported in said container, means for supporting said cathode at one end of the container insulated from said coating, a coating on the exterior of -said container in contact with said cathode supporting means for carrying the current to the other end of said container, and a terminal at said latter end ofthe container in engagement with said inner lm.

15. In an electrolytic condenser, a container formed of insulating material and having a lm of material on its inner Wall forming an anode, a terminal at one end of said container in engagement with said film, a cap screwed on the other open end of the container, said cap having a cathode extending therefrom into said container, said container having an electrolyte therein, and said coating terminating short of the closure end of said container, whereby said cathode `of insulating material and having its inner surface coated with a material forming an anode, said material terminating short of said end closed by said cap and extendingY around the other end of said cylindrical body, a closure cap at the other end of said cylindrical body engaging said coating, and insulating means surrounding said last mentioned cap.

VICTOR F. ZAHODIAKIN.

DISCLAIMER 2,047,452.-Vict0r F. Zahodiakz'n, Cincinnati, Ohio. ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER. Patent dated July 14, 1936. Disclaimer filed December 29, 1941, by the assignee, Joseph B. Brennan. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13 of said speciication.

[Oficial Gazette January 20, 1.942.]

DISCLAIMER 2,047,452.--Vfctor F. Zahoelz'akn, Cincinnati, Ohio. ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER. Patent dated July 14, 1936. Disclaimer led December 29, 1941, by the assignee, Joseph B. Brennan. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 13 of said speciicaton.

[Oficial Gazette January 20, 1.942.] 

